Opposed piston internal-combustion engine



Jan. 25, 1955 w. s. HERZOG OPPOSED PISTON INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25. 1952 INVENTOR. %Z/2a7zz6fl'/Z% ATTD R NEYE Jan. 25, 1955 w, s, HERZQG 2,700,378

OPPOSED PISTON- INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 25, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 2 J t 4 4 INVENTOR. Z/z/Zzawzfi 55 120;,

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ATTEI RN EYE Jan. 25, 1955 w, s, HERZOG 2,700,378

OPPOSED PISTON INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 25, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 3 a. e9 1] 3.? 1 33 .10 F 7W6 ATTDRN EYE Jan. 25, 1955 w,5,. HERZQG I 2,700,378

OPPOSED PISTON INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 25, 1952 4Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. ihzifzaiiz Si /24y,

ATTD R N EYS Iii United States Patent PISTON INTERN AIL-COMBUSTIONENGINE OPPOSED This invention relates to internal combustion motors orengines of the type having removable heads in a cylinder with aconventional power piston, and in particular operating instrumentalitieswhereby a movable head of a cylinder assists in compressing fuel, suchas the fuel of the diesel type engine and in which means is provided forholding the movable head on dead center at the time of the explosion andduring the pressure stroke. With a movable cylinder or cylinder headcoacting with a traveling piston greater efliciency is obtained, due tothe use of high compression ratios, the rapid expansion of the gasesafter ignition, and less cooling of the charge during compression andcombustion.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for obtaining ignitionpressure in an internal combustion engine or motor cylinder therebyobviating the necessity of having an auxiliary high pressure unit.

Various types of engines, motors, and the like have been provided withdouble pistons such as with a piston in each end of a cylinder andvarious auxiliary units have been used for compressing fuel sufficientlyto cause the fuel to ignite without the use of a spark plug. However, itis difficult to obtain suflicient pressure directly in a cylinder tocause fuel to ignite therein and auxiliary fuel compressors and the likerequire additional operating mechanism.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates an engine having acylinder with pistons in both ends and means for operating the pistonswhereby one piston provides the power stroke and the other a movable ortraveling head and in which means is provided for .1

holding the movable head on dead center at the time of the explosion andduring the power stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for incorporating aspring in a mechanical movement for operating a movable head of acylinder where the head is actuated by a cam on the crank shaft of theengine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an internal combustionengine wherein a movable head of a cylinder is actuated by a cam on acrank shaft of an engine in which the engine is of a comparativelysimple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies an internal combustion motor or engine having a cylinder withinlet and exhaust ports extended through the walls thereof andpositioned at spaced points in the intermediate part thereof, a powerpiston positioned in one end of the cylinder and connected to a crankshaft with a connecting rod, a compression piston positioned in theopposite end of the cylinder providing a movable cylinder head, a campositioned on the crank shaft, and means operatively connecting the camto the pressure piston or movable cylinder head whereby the piston movesin opposed relation to the power piston for compressing fluids andwherein the pressure piston or movable head remains on dead centerduring the explosion and outward movement of the power piston.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved internal combustion engine withthe cylinder thereof shown in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the cylinder and mountingelements thereof, showing the power piston at the end of the driving orpressure stroke and showing the movable piston or head in the positionwherein the exhaust ports are open.

Figures 3 to 9, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustratingprogressive positions of the power and pressure pistons.

Figure 3 shows the positions of the pistons just before the fluidreaches ignition pressure.

Figure 4 shows the positions of the pistons at the time the ignitionpressure or ratio is reached wherein the piston providing the movablehead is stationary and the power piston is applying force to the crankshaft.

In. Figure 5 the movable cylinder head is still stationary and the powerpiston is continuing the driving stroke.

In Figure 6 the driving or power piston is approaching the end of thepower stroke and the movable head is opening the exhaust port.

In Figure 7 the pistons are substantially at the ends of the outwardstrokes wherein both intake and exhaust ports are open.

In Figure 8 the pistons have started toward the center in thecompression stroke.

In Figure 9 the driving piston has reached dead center and the movablecylinder head is fast approaching dead center to complete thecompression of the fuel.

Figure 10 is a detail illustrating the link connection of the movablehead connecting rod with a rocker arm, the opposite end of which isactuated by a cam on the crank shaft of the engine.

Figure 11 is a detail showing a track in which a roller on a connectionwhereby a cam actuated rod is connected to the connecting rod of themovable head travels.

Figure 12 is a cross section through the connection illustrated in Fig.11 showing the roller positioned between the rails of the track and alsoshowing the rod actuated by the cam on the crank shaft in section.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal section through a cylinder illustrating amodification wherein both the cylinder and piston are movable.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the improved internal combustion motor or engine ofthis invention includes a cylinder 10, a power piston 11 mounted at oneend of the cylinder, a compression piston 12 positioned in the oppositeend of the cylinder and providing a movable head, a crank shaft 13, acam 14 having a projection 15 thereon for controlling the movable headthrough a rocker arm 16, a cam 17 having an internal track 18 thereinfor actuating the movable head by an actuating rod 19, and a spring 20which provides a kick-in action for the movable head to assist the camin controlling the movement of the head.

The cylinder 10 is provided ,with inlet ports 21 that providecommunicating means between the interior of the cylinder and an intakemanifold 22, and exhaust ports 23 that communicate with an exhaustmanifold 24. As illustrated in the drawings the cylinder is supportedfrom a base 25 with supports 26 and 27, and the intermediate part of thecylinder is provided with air cooling fins 228. it Will be understood,however, that the cylinder may be supported and cooled by other suitablemeans.

The power or driving piston 11 is connected to an offset section 29 ofthe crank shaft 13 with a connecting rod 30 that is pivotally mounted inthe piston with a pin 31.

The piston 12 providing the movable cylinder head is connected to anoperating shaft 32 with a connecting rod 33 that is pivotally mounted inthe piston head 12 with a pin 34 and that is pivotally connected, at the,opposite end to an offset section 35 of the shaft 32. The section 35 ofthe shaft 32 is connected to one end of the rocker arm 16 by a link 36,one end of which is mounted on the offset section 35 and the otherconnected to the rocker arm with a pin 37.

The rocker arm 16 is pivotally mounted on a pin 38 and the end thereofopposite to the end connected by the link 36 to the shaft 32 is providedWith a roller 39 that is positioned to be engaged by the projection 15of the cam 14 on the crank shaft 13 when it is desired to drive themovable head into its final position, from the position shown in Fig. 3to that shown in Fig. 4 wherein with I the piston 11 substantiallystationary the fuel is compressed to the ignition ratio so that it isexploded to drive the piston 11 in the power stroke.

The operating shaft 32 is also provided with a bellcrank or arm 40 thatis connected to the end of the actuating rod 19 with a link 41, the linkbeing piv'otally connected to the rod with a pin 42 at one end andpivotally connected with a pin 43 to the arm 40 at the opposite end. Aroller 44 is provided'on the pin 42, the roller being positioned totravel between rails 45 and 46 of a guide or track, as illustrated inFig. 11.

The opposite end of the actuating rod 19 is connected by a lever 47 to aroller 48 that is operated by the cam track 18 in the cam 17, the rollerbeing journaled on the end of the lever 47, which is pivotally connectedto the rod 19 with a pin 49, being pivotally mounted on a pin 50. Thecam 17 is provided with an inner section 51 with which the roller 43 isretained against the inner surface of the cam 17.

The spring 20, which is positioned around the rod 19 engages, astationary stop 52 on the base 25, and a seat 53 on the rod 19 wherebythe spring coacts with the cam in actuating the movable head.

With the parts arranged in this manner and with the power or drivingpiston 11 at the end of the stroke as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, thecharge has been exhausted, the cylinder cleared of foul gases and afresh charge injected into the cylinder. From this position the pistonsmove in toward the center covering the exhaust and intake openings,eventually arriving at the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the fuel iscompressed, substantially to the ignition ratio or pressure and at thisinstant the projection engages the roller 39, straightening theconnecting rod 33 and the link whereby the piston 12 is actuated with aquick movement to add the final compression stroke wherein the fuel isignited by the pressure and the force of the explosion is expandedagainst the piston 11 with the piston 12 held in a stationary position.

Inthis power stroke the piston 11, acting through the connecting rod 30drives the section of the crank shaft 13 over the center and at the endof the power stroke the piston or movable head 12 travels away from thecenter opening the exhaust ports 23 and with the intake ports 21 alsoopen, air is first injected into the cylinder, providing scavengingmeans to force foul gases through the exhaust port before the fuelcharge is injected into the cylinder. At this time the pistons are inthe positions illustrated in Fig. 7 and from this position the pistonsmove again toward the center, repeating the cycle. In

this movement the spring 20' is compressed by the lever 47 as the levermoves from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 7 and assoon as the roller 43 passes over the lobe of the inner cam 51 thespring snaps the roller back to the position substantially asillustrated'in Fig. 3. guide rails and 46, from the extreme positionshown in Fig. 7 back to the position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and theroller 39, being released by the projection 15, permits the link 36 andthe arm 46 to travel to the positions .illustratedin Fig. 7 wherein themovable head or piston 12 is at the end of its stroke.

The base 25 is provided with vertically disposed walls 55 and 56 and, asillustrated in Fig. 1, the crank shaft 13 is journaled on the walls withbearings 57 and the shaft 32 is journaled on the opposite ends of thewalls with bearings 58.

In the design shown in Figure 13 a cylinder 6t having a head 61 thereinand provided with a piston 62 having a connecting rod 63, is pivotallyconnected by a connecting rod. 64- similar to the rod 33 to an operatingshaft similar to the shaft 32 whereby the cylinder is reciprocated andheld on dead center for the explosion. The cylinder is provided withports 65 and 66 corresponding to the inlet and exhaust ports 21 and 23,respectively of the cylinder 10.

It will be understood that although inlet or intake and exhaust portsare referred to any type of valves or valve assembly may be used, andalso that other products may be compressed in the cylinders.

It will be understood that modifications within the scope of theappended claims may be made in the design and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylin- At the same timethe roller 44 travels in the der, a power piston positioned in one endof the cylinder, a crank shaft, a connecting rod connecting the powerpiston to an offset section of the crank shaft, a piston providing amovable cylinder head positioned in the end of the cylinder opposite tothe end in which the power piston is positioned, an operating shafthaving an arm extended therefrom, a connecting rod connecting the arm ofthe operating shaft to the movable cylinder head, said cylinder havingspaced intake and exhaust ports in the intermediate part thereof, a camhaving a track therein mounted on the crank shaft, means actuating theoperating shaft by the cam whereby the movable cylinder head coacts withthe power piston to compress fuel to ignition pressure with the movablecylinder head remaining stationary in the power stroke of the piston, acam having a projection thereon also mounted on the crank shaft, arocker arm having a roller on one end positioned to be engaged by theprojection of said cam, and a link connecting the opposite end of therocker arm to the pivotal connection of the connecting rod of themovable cylinder head to the arm ofthe operating shaft.

2. In an internal combustion motor, the combination which comprises anelongated cylinder having spaced intake and exhaust manifolds extendedaround the intermediate part thereof with openings from the manifoldsthrough the wall of the cylinder providing communication between themanifolds and interior of the cylinder, a crank shaft spaced from oneend of the cylinder and positioned with the axis thereof perpendicularto the axis of the cylinder and in a plane extended through the axis ofthe cylinder, an operating shaft spaced from the opposite end of thecylinder also positioned perpendicular to the axis'of the cylinder andin a plane extended through the axis of the cylinder, a power pistonslidably mounted in the end of the cylinder from which the crank shaftis spaced, a connecting rod connecting the power piston to the crankshaft, a piston providing a movable head slidably mounted in theopposite end of the cylinder, a connecting rod connecting ,the movablehead to an arm extended from the operating shaft, a rocker armpositi-oned adjacent the cylinder, a link connecting one end of therocker arm to the connection of the connecting rod of the movable headto the arm extended from the operating shaft, a roller journaled on theopposite end of the rocker arm, a cam having a projection on theperipheral surface positioned whereby the projection engages the rolleron the end of the rocker arm, a cam having an internal track alsopositioned on said crank shaft, a pivotally mounted lever having aroller on one end positioned to extend into the internal track of thecam on the crank shaft, a rod extended from the opposite end of saidlever to a point spaced below said operating shaft, a link connectingthe end of the rod to an arm extended from the operating shaft, a rollerpositioned on the pivotal connection between the rod and the link, anarcuate guide track positioned whereby said roller onthe connection ofthe rod to the link travels to control the movement of the movable head,and means coordinating the movements of the cams with the operatingshaft whereby the movable head meets with the power piston to compressfuel in the cylinder to ignition pressure.

3. In an internal combustion motor, the combination which comprises anelongated cylinder having spaced intake and exhaust manifolds extendedaround the intermediate part thereof with openings from the manifolds ofthe cylinder and in a plane extended through the axis.

of the cylinder, an operating shaft spaced from the opposite end of thecylinder also positioned perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder andin a plane extended through the axis of the cylinder, a power pistonslidably mounted in the end of the cylinder from'which the crank shaftis spaced, a connecting rod connecting the power piston to the crankshaft, a piston providing a movable head slida-bly mounted in theopposite end of the cylinder, a connecting rod connecting the movablehead to an arm extended from the operating shaft, a rocker armpositioned adjacent the cylinder, a link connecting one end of therocker arm to the connection of the connecting rod of the movable headto the arm extended from the operating shaft, a roller journale'd on theopposite end of the. rocker arm, a carnhaving a projection on theperipheral surface positioned whereby the projection engages the rolleron the end of the rocker arm, a cam having an internal track alsopositioned on said crank shaft, a pivotally mounted lever having aroller on one end positioned to extend into the internal track of thecam on the crank shaft, a rod extended from the opposite end of saidlever to a point spaced below said operating shaft, a link connectingthe end of the rod to an arm extended from the operating shaft, a rollerpositioned on the pivotal connection between the rod and the link, anarcuate guide track positioned whereby said roller on the connection ofthe rod to the link travels to control the movement of the movable head,and means coordinating the movements of the cams with the operatingshaft whereby the movable head coacts with the power piston to compressfuel in the cylinder to ignition pressure, and whereby the movable headremains stationary during the power stroke of the power piston.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS779,116 Bronder Jan. 3, 1905 1,138,919 Willey et a1. May 11, 19151,207,846 Bradford Dec. 12, 1916 1,246,522 Hillhouse Oct. 16, 19171,574,574 Hale Feb. 23, 1926 1,574,062 Boehmer Feb. 23, 1926 1,973,887Schick Sept. 18, 1934

